Politics

Battle To Stop PDP Presidential Primary Election Shifts To Appeal Court

Published

4 years ago

May 1, 2022

The legal battle seeking to stop the conduct of the Presidential Primary Election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shifted to the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

A chieftain of the party, Rt Hon Cosmos Chukwudi Ndukwe had dragged the PDP’S Primary Election Planning Committee Chairman, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu and others before a Federal High Court in Abuja praying that the planned election be stopped.

His grouse was premissed on his disqualification from participating in the presidential primary election on the ground of anti-party activity.

The aggrieved PDP chieftain had in addition to his originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2022, filed an ex-parte application for an order to restrain the PDP from going ahead with the primary election until his suit has been fully determined.

However, on April 28, Justice Donatus Okorowo in a ruling on the ex-parte application refused to grant the request of the plaintiff.

The Judge, however, ordered the PDP and its Primary Election Planning Committee to appear before the court to show cause on why the primary election should not be stopped at the instance of the suit of the plaintiff.

However, dissatisfied with the Federal High Court’s decision, the Primary Election Planning Committee Chairman filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal praying that the order of Justice Okorowo be set aside.

Among others, the appellant, (Senator Anyanwu) claimed that the Judge errerd in law by denying him fair hearing in breach of section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

He asserted that the originating summon of the plaintiff was not ripe for hearing and that the time for him to file counter affidavit against the suit had not lapsed when the Judge gave the order.

The appellant claimed that the court erred in law when it failed to aver its mind to the provision of Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022, before making the order to show cause.

Senator Anyanwu further asserted that the Judge erred in not directing the plaintiff to put him (Anyanwu) on notice but rather, directed him to show cause on an ex-parte application anchored on an incompetent originating summons.

He, therefore, asked the Court of Appeal to void and set aside the order of the Federal High Court of April 28 asking him to show cause why the primary election should not be stopped.

Apart from Ndukwe, other respondents in the appeal are the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 4th respondents, respectively.

Related Topics:2023 election PDP Presidential Primary

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Politics

Oshiomhole Blasts Amaechi, Says He Built Railway To Niger Republic Instead Of Port Harcourt

Published

16 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole on Monday criticised former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of poor judgment and misplaced priorities during his tenure in office.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oshiomhole said: “Rotimi Amaechi is the most terrible. Look at the choice of language. A guy who shut down Rivers judiciary because he wanted to appoint his own personal favourite as chief judge of Rivers State. Once he couldn’t have his way, the Rivers State judiciary was shut down for almost two years.

“Look at the crisis in the railway system that he superintendent over for eight unbroken years. He was unable to get the priorities right, playing to the gallery.

“Now he rather constructed a rail, not to Kano, not to Port Harcourt, where he came from, but to Niger Republic.

“Which goods are we sending to Niger Republic? He was a minister. And if you were a minister under Buhari, you will be fair to him, life or death, that Buhari gave anyone he appointed free hand to do the job he assigned to you. That is what Buhari was.”

Politics

State Police Can No Longer Be Delayed – South-West Governors

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

The Southwest Governors Forum is set to create a South West Regional Security Fund to strengthen responses to insecurity in the region.

This initiative aims to address the rise in kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining, and unregulated interstate migration.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the six governors on Monday at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State.

In the communiqué issued at the end, it was agreed that all six states would support coordinated operations, joint intelligence sharing, and rapid-response initiatives across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.

The governors also emphasised that the establishment of state police “can no longer be delayed.”

They applauded President Bola Tinubu for security interventions in states affected by kidnappings, while urging sustained attention on regional development.

Politics

JUST IN: Atiku Officially Joins ADC, Registers With Party In Adamawa

Published

23 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State, signalling a major development in Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The registration took place on Monday, following Atiku’s announcement to ADC supporters and stakeholders in Adamawa over the weekend.

Abdul Rasheeth, an aide to the former vice president, had confirmed the development in a statement obtained by The PUNCH.

Videos and photos from the event showed Atiku’s convoy arriving in the town to the cheers of supporters, who beat drums, sang, and carried placards with his image.

Atiku waved and greeted well-wishers from his vehicle as he received his ADC membership card.

In a brief X (Formerly Twitter) post on his handle shorty after his registration, Atiku wrote,” It’s official. -AA”

This move formalises Atiku’s association with the coalition party, which he had previously endorsed in July as a platform for opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Babachir Lawal, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Until now, Atiku and other opposition leaders had delayed their formal registration with the ADC.

The former vice president’s registration is expected to strengthen the party’s profile and consolidate the opposition ahead of the next general election.